Rating: 
Summary: Chopin really was ahead of her time...
Review: Upon examination of this book, I agree that Chopin is a writer ahead of her time. She would be more apt to write in the 1990's where cheesy romance novels and Danielle Steele reign supreme. This book is horrid in every aspect of the word and could only be made worse if she mispelled several words including the title and made a plethora of grammatical errors. It is a bland plot mixed with bland character development that is built on a stupid premise that makes me feel stupider now that I have read the book. In fact, I think the CIA dropped these books on Russia to create a brain drain in the nation. In the words of the immortal Jay Sherman: "It Stinks!"
Rating: 
Summary: She happened to me!
Review: I read "The Awakening" in my English 101 class, and I hated it. Met "her" the following year. Wether good or Bad "The Awakening" is true. There are ideals and then there are people trying to live them. I met a person.
Rating:
Summary: utterly ground-breaking
Review: This is NOT a feminist handbook - and you (male and female alike) who profess it to be so should be ashamed. This is a prime example of a writer far ahead of her time and one that was not afraid to grapple with taboo topics. "The Awakening" is a superbly written book which would receive my accolades if written by a man or a woman. It just so happens that it was written by a woman. A great book is a great book regardless of the sex of the writer. In retrospect, the fact that Kate Chopin wrote this in 1899 should attract a degree of interest. Kate Chopin was an excellent writer who had masterful technique when dealing with otherwise bland and work-a-day experiences. All must realize that the writing of this book nearly destroyed her career. The restrained atmosphere of the day did not nurture women who dared tread into literary territory reserved mostly for men. This is a must read for all who enjoy late nineteenth century literature. If any are wondering why I only rated this book as a "9" should realize that I reserve a rating of "10" for perfect books - of which I have seen none. Oh, and if anybody cares, I am a man.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly horrid novel
Review: Why or how anyone could enjoy Kate Chopin's The Awakening is something that utterly baffles me. The book left a very negative impression on me, to say the least, and makes me wonder what my professor for Women and Literature was thinking when she had us read it. The book especially looked bad in contrast to the 2 read right before (Jane Eyre and Little Women) and the Handmaid's Tale that followed it. All three show the sheer power of a novel written by an intelligent woman with a wonderful story to tell. Looking at some of the other reviews, I see a depiction of this novel as the story of the " emancipation of women" and "female independence". There are many novels that express this theme with good prose, though, and without utterly boring the reader to death. Perhaps it is hard for a man like myself to truly grasp the importance of the book, but I can't help myself from thinking how the novel might have been greeted by critics of the day if it had expressed the same themes but had been written by a capable author.
Rating:
Summary: Edna's a Whore
Review: In Kate Chopin's The Awakening, Edna Ponteiller learns that there is more to life than just marriage and abiding by Creole society. Edna leaves her husband to live life on her own. By leaving her husband behind, Edna goes through a Renissance. Life away from her husband is a seeming blessing to Edna. Even though Creole society shunned this action Edna continued to enjoy life away from her previous lifestyle. I think this is an extremley deep and moving novel, well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Prit-near perfect
Review: Feminism isn't popular in literature, not really. Not unless it's done with restraint. Why does Cajun/New Orleans Edna, perfectly married in a genuinely affectionate, gentrified marriage, commit suicide in the sea? Isn't there more to life than this? Once "Awakened," can there be life? This is depth awareness of cultural perfidy, genuine literature. No cheap shots or easy answers. Read on....
Rating:
Summary: probably the worst book i have ever read
Review: I might as well say that I am a computer engineering major at the University of Kansas, so all bigots who do not even bother to respect what I say because they do not agree with me can chalk it up to the fact that I am a male engineering major and I "just can't understand it" and you will point out that my English here is not always gramatically correct (it's a Sunday afternoon and I don't care). To those of you I say: "Look at the facts and don't make excuses!" <end of disclaimer> I guess if you like boring writing and a soap-operaesque plot, go ahead and read. This, however, should not the book that is heralded by critics as it is. I cannot see what they see in it. Edna, who is married, runs off to see a second man. He escapes to South America when he realizes he is getting into this relationship much to deep, so Edna looks for a third man, who she knows in her heart and has been advised that he is bad for her; Naturally, she goes after him anyway. After getting too attached to Alcee, her other lover proclaims in a letter that he's coming back. So ends the plot summary of "The Awakening", written in a wash of thinly veiled sybolism and in an excruciating-to-read writing style. "The Awakening" would have been a great book to read if I had been looking for either a feminist handbook or a book destroying the sanctity of marriage. Many people, particularly feminists, will argue two things, Edna was being oppressed and Edna was a passionate woman. True, Edna was being oppressed, but do three wrongs (oppression compounded with adultery and suicide) make a right. As for passion, Edna is a bland woman who relies on everyone else (Adele, the doctor, Reisz) to make the tough decision for her. Most of you will not agree with what I just said, but those are what I consider to be the cold, hard facts. I was crucified in my English class (which consisted of 3 males, 15 females, and a feminist teacher), but "such is life". I also write this as a warning to all who would be swayed by the crowd to think of this as a good book when they do not believe this to be true, to give a dissenting opinion, something to balance and use as a measure to compare those other reviews against. And lastly, I write this because I believe this is the truth.
Rating:
Summary: Edna was a woman with a need for passion.
Review: Edna, was like Emma Bovary, she needed a more passionate life than her husband could ever give her. Unlike Emma, Edna did not live in a dream world, she just wanted to be free, not have a romantic life. Edna did have a romantic situation with Alcee Arobin, a known man. Towards the end Edna goes to see Adele, her friend giving birth. This is the last point that Edna gives at life, she sees the beginning, but she wants to be free and thus liberates herself from life.
Rating: 
Summary: Strange but surprising experience
Review: As a teenage male I shuddered at the thought of having to read this book about female independence. I am happy to admit that The Awakening was much more than a feminist handbook. It was sensitive and thought-provoking, but it was also coldly realistic. This book will enlighten anyone who reads it, young or old, male or female
Rating:
Summary: A poignant description of someone trying to find their self
Review: In her book, The Awakening, Kate Chopin does an excellent job of not only providing us with a vivid description of Edna Pontellier, but also of the internal struggle she is having in the process of awakening.
At times alluring, at times upbeat, The Awakening is most often sad. Sad because of the conflict Mrs. Pontellier is having. Sad because of her lonliness. Yet it is also alluring because Edna _does_ eventually break away from her pre-determined role; because she finally _does_ awaken--and she is free.
One can easily relate to Edna Pontellier and her internal struggle with society and her Self, whether one is male or female. The Awakening provides excellent material to discuss in a classroom setting, or it can be read for the mere enjoyment of it.
|
